For the Breast of Us

BADDIE BLOGS

Our mission is to empower women of color affected by breast cancer to make the rest of their lives the best of their lives through education, advocacy and community.

I Think I Lost My Voice

I know. I know. It’s been some time since my last blog entry. In fact, I began to feel guilty, feeling like I was letting people down, as if I was an imposter. Quite simply, I felt like I had turned my back on breast cancer. And I know that makes no damn sense at all.

Many times, I’ve opened my MacBook to blog, and my fingers would not move across the keyboard. I had no words to give.

I’d traded the struggles of my “before” life with new struggles that I wasn’t sure people wanted to hear about. Struggles I didn’t feel it was fair for me to have.

I’d traded in the woes of breast cancer with the same struggles that everyone else has! How could I dare type a blog entry about not being upgraded on a flight to Mexico? Or being tired of zoom calls, or being exhausted from multi-tasking, etc., etc., etc.

However, while it was true that my blogging had significantly decreased, my patient advocacy and mentorship had begun to take on a life of their own.

The words that would not flow from my fingertips were now coming from my mouth as I spoke with pharmaceutical companies about barriers to clinical trials for women of color.

The words flowed from me as I comforted women who needed hope as they began their own journeys with the disease.

The words flowed from within as I told my story over and over again to various social and civic organizations, at my place of employment…to just about anyone who would give me a zoom microphone.

And that’s when I realized that I hadn’t lost my voice at all. The venue for using my words had only changed.

There is a season for everything. This blog was a source of therapy during my journey. I expressed my feelings through the written word. But maybe that season has passed?

This new voice I have requires a different platform. These words I use to influence, to change, and to advocate for others need to be heard. They require facial expressions and hand movements. This part of my journey requires spoken word.

As Breast Cancer Awareness (or Action) Month is upon us in October, I’ll continue to use my words and not because it’s popular to do so with your favorite pink attire on. (Hint: Do your research! Don’t buy it just because it’s pink. Most likely that money does not support breast cancer research or women impacted by the disease!) But because it is my duty to continue to share my story, even if it helps just one person.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
-Every little black girl in Children’s church

advocacy, Baddie Ambassador, breast cancer, purpose, spirituality, Tova Parker

Tova Parker

Tova was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Triple Negative breast cancer in December 2019. After undergoing five months of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction in 2020, she is currently cancer-free. Tova is passionate about helping others face trials with positivity. She is an active mentor with a passion for nurturing the confidence of young black women from disadvantaged environments. During her journey, she shared her trial publicly in a blog at www.Prettysic.com. More recently, as a Breast Cancer thriver, Tova is an active patient advocate and mentor to individuals affected by Breast Cancer. Although she employs the left side of her brain as an engineer, she also fulfills her purpose using the right side as a writer. She is currently documenting her journey in a memoir. More information can be found at www.prettysic.com. Tova Parker currently resides in Houston with her husband (Theo), college-aged son (Dahki), and tween daughter (Sydney). She enjoys reading, travel, and wellness activities.